Anti-superstition bill, a tribute to Ambedkar, says Mallikarjun Kharge

MANGALURU: Describing the anti-superstition bill as a tribute to the late Dr B R Ambedkar during his 125th birth anniversary, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, M Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday asked the state government to ensure passage of the legislation at the earliest.

Speaking at a Congress convention and an event organized by Mangaluru City and South Block to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Mr Kharge said “Dr Ambedkar was against superstition and passing the bill will be a tribute to him. I ask ministers present here (D K Shivakumar, Ramanath Rai and U T Khader) to ensure that the bill is passed at the earliest. This bill is not to harm or interfere or hurt anybody’s religion sentiments but to ensure that superstitious beliefs like ‘Bettale Seve,’ untouchability, human sacrifice and the like, which harm people, are stopped,” he added.

He expressed confidence that leaders of opposition parties would support the proposed bill. “Basavanna was against superstition and thus I believe his followers like Jagadish Shettar and others will not oppose the bill. Kuvempu was a rationalist. So, Kumaraswamy too may not oppose the bill. The government has to work on getting this bill passed at the earliest,” he added.

He criticized the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for projects which were initiated by Congress governments. KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao lambasted the Opposition for disrupting proceedings during the monsoon session of legislature. “If they give me single piece of concrete evidence against minister K J George, I will ask the CM to drop Mr George from the cabinet,” he added.